After Qi Lin and Ning Rongrong left the pavilion, what had originally been a pair traveling together became a group of three, with Xue Ling following prettily behind them.
After returning to Heaven Dou Academy, Qi Lin introduced Xue Ling to Sister Xiao Wu and the others. Everyone sympathized deeply with her plight, especially Sister Xiao Wu, who clenched her fists and said angrily, "Those traffickers—if they fall into Sister Xiao Wu's hands, I'll skin them alive!"
As for the others, although they sympathized with her, having been born into noble families, they had long grown accustomed to such things.
That was simply the way of the Douluo Continent!
Yet Xue Ling felt somewhat overwhelmed by Sister Xiao Wu and the others' warm treatment.
Upon returning to Qi Lin's dormitory, Gu Yuena specially cleared out a room for her.
That evening, after dinner.
At first, Xue Ling felt that she was merely her master's maid and was unworthy of eating at the same table as her master and mistress. But when she addressed Gu Yuena as "mistress," the woman, beautiful almost to perfection, revealed a gentle smile and personally served her a bowl of rice.
This was the most delicious meal Xue Ling had eaten since the day she was born.
The concern shown to her by her master and mistress gave her a warmth she had never experienced before.
Afterward, Xue Ling meticulously cleared the table, washed all the dishes and chopsticks, and put them away neatly. Once she had finished everything, Qi Lin suddenly called out to her.
"Master, did you need something from me?"
Qi Lin had initially told her to call him by name, but Xue Ling was extremely stubborn about it. She felt that doing so would be disrespectful to her master, and insisted on